Gary Miller

Real Name: Neville Williams

Birth Date: 1924

Birth Place: Blackpool, Lancashire

Gary Miller was a talented individual
who could doubtless have made a career in any of several spheres.
After completing his service in the Royal Navy after the war,
he made the move south from his native Blackpool. It was his
ambition to enter the teaching profession and in pursuit of this
he enrolled as a student at a London college. However extracarricular
activity soon found him singing- a hitherto undiscovered talent
that led him away from his studies and towards making it as a
professional entertainer.

Gary is a difficult singer to categorise,
because he sang such a wide variety of different material. His
chart successes indicate that he was most suited to light 'pop',
but he also sang a great many romantic ballads. He was the consummate
professional, but despite his polished performances he never
quite managed to break through into the top flight of British
balladeers. The writer of this piece remembers seeing a live
performance that Gary gave in March, 1958. Buddy Holly and the
Crickets were top of the bill at the same show. Unfortunately,
the Crickets were due to appear on the TV show "Sunday Night
At The London Palladium" that same evening and had to go
on stage first because of the timing of this appointment. Consequently,
it was left to Gary to close the show. Despite having to deal
with an audience still heady after a legendary performance by
one of rock and roll's greatest stars (several people held up
lighted matches during the rendition of Gary's latest release,
"Put A Light In The Window") he came through the ordeal
undaunted and to great applause.

The EP on the left (NEP24047 issued in 1957) is one of no less
than seven that Gary had released during his recording career.
However he only had two albums issued and all his releases with
picture sleeves are now quite hard to find. EPs are often a good
way of getting hold of original tracks that were otherwise only
available on 78rpm. For example, this record contains Wonderful,
Wonderful, and The Garden Of Eden which were originally issued
as 78s.

Gary probably relied too heavily on recording
covers of the songs of others and few of his best releases were
without strong competition from well known singers. However,
he managed to put something of his own into every one of them.
Sadly, Gary Miller died from a heart attack in 1968.

1950s & 1960s 45rpm UK Discography

Upper List includes UK 45 singles releases
only

Collector's Items are shown In Red

Some Important 78s are shown in Green

See Lower list for EP releases

Pye B15004

1955

Yellow Rose Of Texas

#13

Pye N15020

1956

Robin Hood

#10

Pye N15070

1957

Garden Of Eden

#14

Pye N15094

1957

Wonderful Wonderful

#29

Pye 7N15120

1958

The Story Of My Life/ Put A Light In The Window

#14

Pye 7N15136

1958

Lollipop/ Dancing With My Shadow

Pye 7N15140

1958

On The Street Where You Live/ That's For Me

Pye 7N15151

1958

A Couple Of Crazy Kids/ Ivanhoe Of England

Pye 7N15164

1958

The First Christmas Day/ Nearest And Dearest

Pye 7N15188

1959

Jezebel/ The Railroad Song

Pye 7N15207

1959

Sing Along/ Someone To Come Home To

Pye 7N15239

1959

Marina/ Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me

Pye 7N15277

1960

Mission Bells/ Nearest And Dearest

Pye 7N15338

1961

Dream Harbour/ Goodnight Sweetheart

Pye 7N15368

1961

The Story Behind My Tears/ Some Enchanted Evening

Pye 7N15404

1961

There Goes That Song Again/ The Night Is Young

#29

Pye 7N15425

1962

If You Were The Only Girl In The World/ Dancing
In The Dark

Pye 7N15452

1962

If I Had My Way/ Moonlight Becomes You

Pye 7N15474

1962

Mister Lonely/ Sunday

Pye 7N15497

1963

I've Heard That Song Before/ You Are Beautiful

Pye 7N15592

1963

Maria Elena/Amor

Pye 7N15651

1964

The Way You Look Tonight/ Dear Friend

Pye 7N15698

1964

Aqua Marina/ Stingray

Pye SN17388

1967

My World Is Blue/ Grain Of Golden Sand

Note that Gary also had 78s issued on Columbia
and Philips labels.

7N15151 was produced in the company of Marion
Ryan and on 7N15140 he was accompnied by the Kenny Ball Jazz
Band.